Free Transit: The Good-Bad-Ugly
As much I push free transit on December 31, is it worth taking it?
Things started off for me when I got on a MT 19S artic at 1917 where it had about 60 riders on it. It was almost at peak load when we hit PC GO station.
The lobby of the GO station was pack full of waiting riders for the 1944 train.
I would say there were over 200 riders waiting for the train at this point.
The station agent got on the PA a number of times telling riders to get off the track and stay behind the yellow line.
As the GO train rolled by us, it was pretty full and I would say it was about 70% full before adding in the PC rider. I got on the cab car and the upper level was about 40% full.
The train was not running at full speed heading into Toronto for some reason.
Saw an ALVR sitting at Long Branch with its lights off.
Most of the QEW/Gardiner traffic was leaving Toronto than going into it.
When we hit Union, the train over shot the accessibly platform and had to backup. Had to wait for the engineer to walk from the front engine to the cab car.
As we were about to backup, a rider forced open the door to get on forcing the engineer to go back and reset the door. That rider got on my car and level. The guard stated because of this rider we will have to wait a few more minutes before we could backup and debark. I said to the rider that he was reasonable for this extra delay and he laugh.
The train was about 15 minute late when the doors finally open to discharge the riders.
When we got to Oshawa, we were 22 minutes late. First time I have been that far on a GO train and wanted to take a look of the area, but being so late that idea was killed.
About 200 riders got on from what I saw at Oshawa, but I am sure there was more than that as we were a few minutes late departing as late riders were running to catch the train. This happen a few other stations as were just starting to pull away when the train came to a stop to allow late riders on.
Not sure what the track speed limit is here, but transports were passing us along the 401.
Again, more traffic was leaving Toronto than going to it.
Had to laugh at some of the conversations I heard heading into Toronto. "My first trip to the big city". "If it was not for the free transit we would not be going to the free events in Toronto". "Taking my kids to show them a good time that we don't have in our town".
We were 24 minutes late arriving at Union. I would say less than 700 got off the train.
Saw an east bound 505 being short turn at Parliament and not sure if this is the norm.
Took in the event at City Hall and we found a spot to get out of the rain.
Riders were piss off when they found out that the 1243 going west was now going to depart at 113.
You would think it was rush hour with the amount of riders waiting for both 113 train.
The stairs were pack full with riders waiting for the trains about 25 minutes before the departure and the security staff had their hand full. I saw 5 security crews, but I am sure there were more than them around.
When it was announced what track were being use, it became a mod scene trying to get up to the platforms. This was worse than rush hour as most of these riders did not care about safety or other riders. GO should had schedule different time to cut down on this madness.
Found riders crossing the tracks as they went up different stairs to get around this mob.
I got on the #4 car from the cab car.
26'iers bottles were being passed around openly.
We were about 2 minute late leaving caused by late riders.
I was on the top level and it was standing room only. A vast number of riders were walking through the car toward the cab car trying to find a seat and keep walking on.
The bottles were still being passed around. Very rowdy on my car.
About 20 riders plus got off at each stations as we head west. Even a fair amount of riders got off at the EX.
As we head down the stairs for my stop, found riders sitting on them as well in the walkway. Standing room only on the bottom level.
As we waited for the doors to open, announcement was made due to an emergency on the train and the train would not be moving until the emergency is over.
As I headed to the stairwell, it became a mod scene trying to get to the stairwell as well through the door. A fight spell off the train to go along with another that just broke out at the stairwell door. Umbrellas started to fly, but 26'iers started to fly with a number being smash on the ground.
Other riders along with me backed away from these fights and security came along with GO staff try to stop these fights. Security had their baton out in full length.
I would say about 300-400 riders got off.
Just missed my 19N because of this fight and the next one was at 209.
A unmarked Peel cruiser pull up to the GO station a couple minutes after the ambulance pull up. A few more Peel cars show up.
The last GO bus from Toronto pull in about 15 minutes later dropping off 20 riders and it was standing room only.
I made a bet that MT bus would be a 40' and not everyone waiting for it would get on and I was right. Riders were standing on the roadway where the buses would pull into and that group turned into a mod trying to get on the bus by doing a running push and shoving move. The driver call in to see what she was to do with riders waiting on the
platform that could not get on the bus as well being at crush load.
We left 20 riders on the platform and I counted 76 on the bus. We bypass riders at the Lakeshore stop as well another 15 at Park St. Driver stop at the ESSO station to change the sign to out of service because of the load.
We drop riders at a few stop up to Dundas St, but still at peak load. When I got off, there were still 65 riders on as we did pickup riders at a few stops where riders got off.
MT needs to have artic on after 2000 for Sunday service as the ridership demands it for it for the past years let alone for New Years. Even if an artic was on the route, it still would have left riders along the route. This is what happened when you increase the headway over the past years. Even the south bounds were close to peak load.
I wonder what OT and BT did for this late train as well with the size of the crowd? Unless OT had full size buses waiting for this train, the zone buses would never handle the load.
Good: Free transit and good PR.
Bad: Service does not meet the ridership demand.
Ugly: Mob scene, fights.
I cannot remember if GO has done this before, otherwise it exceeded their expectation. Ridership was at least 600% more than you would find on a normal Sunday service train for the last train if not more.
The GO train pull out about 210.
Would we do this again, NO!! as it not worth the hazel?
I heard there was no GO Service on the rail Monday and buses were being use. This was around 5.00 pm.
